Frangible container closure made of elastomeric plastics material

ABSTRACT

A container mouth is plugged by an open-ended tubular shell, closable at the top by a hinged cap, whose interior is spanned by a membrane which is weakened along two closed lines defining two separate detachable wall portions. The larger of the two wall portions is rigid with the extremities of a ring-segmental tab which spacedly overlies the membrane within the shell and whose midpoint is integrally joined to the smaller wall portion whereby an upward pull upon the two halves of the tab simultaneously removes both wall portions to form a pouring aperture and an air inlet.

United States Patent Johann Matzka [72] inventor Gumpendorterstr. 15,Wein VI, Austria [21] Appl. No. 847,084 [22] Filed Aug. 4, 1969 [45]Patented Oct. 5, 1971 [32] Priority Aug. 8, I968 [33] Austria [31] A7767/68 [54] FRANGIBLE CONTAINER CLOSURE MADE OF ELASTOMERIC PLASTICSMATERIAL 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 222/479, 222/541, 222/547 [51] Int. Cl B65d 47/10 [50] Fieldof Search 222/547, 541, 479, 85; 220/27 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,031,111 4/1962 Stull 222/541 Primary ExaminerRobert B.Reeves Assistant Examiner-Thomas E. Kocovsky Attorney- Karl F. RossABSTRACT: A container mouth is plugged by an open-ended tubular shell,closable at the top by a hinged cap, whose interior is spanned by amembrane which is weakened along two closed lines defining two separatedetachable wall portions. The larger of the two wall portions is rigidwith the extremities of a ring-segmental tab which spacedly overlies themembrane within the shell and whose midpoint is integrally joined to thesmaller wall portion whereby an upward pull upon the two halves of thetab simultaneously removes both wall portions to form a pouring apertureand an air inlet.

' ove.

IIIIIII Our present invention relates to a closure for a bottle or otheropen-topped container whose contents, with the closure in place, can beremoved only after a frangible seal in the closure has been broken.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved closure of thistype, made preferably of elastomeric plastic material, in which twoopenings ,(respectively serving as a pouring outlet and as an airintake) can be formed by a single pull on a tab rising from thefrangible seal.

This object is realized, pursuant to our invention, by the provision ofa rupturable membrane spanning a tubular upright shell between its ends,the membrane being weakened along two closed lines defining twodetachable wall portions of different size. The larger wall portion isconnected with the ends of a loop-shaped tab spacedly overlying themembrane, the midpoint of the loop being similarly secured to thesmaller wall portion whereby both portions can be torn outsimultaneously by an upward pull on the two halves of the loop. Theshell may be closed at the top by a hinged, cap shaped lid overlying thetab prior to its removal.

Two embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example on theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I is an axial sectional view showing a container, and a closureaccording to the invention inserted into the container mouth, its capbeing shown in closed position;

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of the closure alone, shown in openposition;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing the closure in the position of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view taken through a bottle which has aclosure according to the invention fitted to its neck;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view which is similar to FIG. 1 but with an outletand an air inlet formed therein; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view which is similar to FIG. 4 and shows theoutlet and air-inlet openings formed therein.

The closure shown in FIGS. I-3 and 5 comprises a shell I, a transversemembrane 2 and a closure cap 3 of plastic material connected by anarticulated joint 4 with the shell 1. The cap 3 is provided with adepending skirt 5, formed with sealing ribs 6 to engage the inner shellsurface, and with an opening lug 7. The shell 1 has on top a sharp edge8 which ensures the cutoff of the outflowing liquid and avoidsundesirable leakage and dripping on the outside wall.

Along a sectorlike, closed line 9, where arcuate portion is curved aboutthe closure axis 27, and along an eccentric circular line 10, themembrane 2 is formed with grooves 11 which weaken the membrane tofacilitate the tearing off of the wall portions 15, 16 defined by thesegrooves so that an outlet opening for discharging the contents of thecontainer 28 and an air-intake opening can be formed. The vertex of thelarger, sectoral wall portion 15 points to the smaller, circular wallportion 16.

For a convenient detachment of the wall portions 15 and 16, an opentearing ring 17 is provided which isspaced from the membrane 2 anddisposed inside the shell 1. The ring-segmental body of this tab 17 isfirmly connected to the two wall portions 15, 16 by webs l8 and 19 whichmay be made integral with these portions. To facilitate the removal ofthe wall portions 15, 16, the webs l8, 19 are connected thereto in thevicinity of the grooves 11. More particularly, the webs 18 form thedownwardly bent extremities of the tab whereas the web 19 extends fromthe midpoint of the ring segment. When a finger is slipped under thetearing ring 17 and the latter is suddenly pulled upward, the two wallportions l5, 16 are entirely torn off along the parting lines 9, 10 inthe grooves 111 so that the outlet opening and the air inlet appear intheir stead. This is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Beneath the vent opening,the membrane 2 is provided with a pipe 20 descending into the container28; so that the closure can be used as a dispenser when the wallportions l5, 16 have been removed. This i e 20 IS of great importancefor a calm flow of the contents oPtlie container.

It will be understood that a unilateral pull can be applied to thetearing ring so that only one wall portion 15 or 16 is removed from themembrane.

The closure which consists preferably of elastic material has on theouter surface of its shell 1 a peripheral groove 21 which is used for asnap engagement with the rim 29 of the container mouth. A conical pilotsurface 22 below the groove 21 facilitates the insertion of the closureinto the rim 29 of the container 28.

The closure shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 is similarly designed but adapted tobe mounted on a bottleneck 30. This closure has an inner annularretaining rib 23 for engaging the underside of a bead 24 on the outsideof the bottle. The bead 24 may spacedly overlie a further bead 25 whichobstructs the access to an annular lip 26 of the shell la so that anunauthorized removal of the closure is rendered more difficult. Insteadof one retaining rib 23, a plurality of such ribs may be provided nextto one another.

For use as a dispenser, the closure may be provided with a spout 27,which is particularly advantageous when the dispenser is spaced from therim of the container, e.g. mounted at the center thereof. This spout maybe of any suitable shape.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the closure in a position which enables animmediate decanting of the contents of the bottle. In the position shownin FIG. 5, the closure cap 3 must be moved first to the position shownin FIG. 2 to permit emptying the container 28.

What is claimed is:

l. A closure for a container having an open mouth, comprismg:

an open-ended tubular shell centered on a substantially vertical axisand provided at its lower end with a formation engageable with thecontainer mouth;

a rupturable membrane spanning the interior of said shell and forming afrangible seal, said membrane being provided along two closed lines withweakened zones defining two spaced-apart wall portions detachable fromthe remainder of the membrane; and

a tab member with a loop-shaped body spacedly overlying said membranewithin said shell, said body being connected at the extremities of theloop with one of said wall portions and at the midpoint of the loop withthe other of said wall portions for simultaneous detachment thereof uponan upward pull on both halves of said body.

2. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said one of said wallportions is substantially larger than said other of said wall portions.

3. A closure as defined in claim 2 wherein said loop is a segment of aring centered on said axis, said one of said wall portions beingsubstantially sector shaped with an arcuate boundary centered on saidaxis and with a vertex pointing toward said other of said portions.

4. A closure as defined in claim 3 wherein said other of said portionsis circular.

5. A closure as defined in claim 1, further comprising a hinged capnormally closing the top of said shell and encasing said tab member.

6. A closure as defined in claim 5 wherein said cap is provided with adepending skirt fitting into the top of said shell above said membrane.

7. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said shell and said membraneconsist of elastomeric plastic material.

1. A closure for a container having an open mouth, comprising: anopen-ended tubular shell centered on a substantially vertical axis andprovided at its lower end with a formation engageable with the containermouth; a rupturable membrane spanning the interior of said shell andforming a frangible seal, said membrane being provided along two closedlines with weakened zones defining two spaced-apart wall portionsdetachable from the remainder of the membrane; and a tab member with aloop-shaped body spacedly overlying said membrane within said shell,said body being connected at the extremities of the loop with one ofsaid wall portions and at the midpoint of the loop with the other ofsaid wall portions for simultaneous detachment thereof upon an upwardpull on both halves of said body.
 2. A closure as defined in claim 1wherein said one of said wall portions is substantially larger than saidother of said wall portions.
 3. A closure as defined in claim 2 whereinsaid loop is a segment of a ring centered on said axis, said one of saidwall portions being substantially sector shaped with an arcuate boundarycentered on said axis and with a vertex pointing toward said other ofsaid portions.
 4. A closure as defined in claim 3 wherein said other ofsaid portions is circular.
 5. A closure as defined in claim 1, furthercomprising a hinged cap normally closing the top of said shell andencasing said tab member.
 6. A closure as defined in claim 5 whereinsaid cap is provided with a depending skirt fitting into the top of saidshell above said membrane.
 7. A closure as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid shell and said membrane consist of elastomeric plastic material.